El Prado es uno de los escasos yacimientos al aire libre del Neolítico Antiguo de la mitad norte peninsular. En la excavación arqueológica han sido documentadas cincuenta estructuras negativas asociadas a un poblado del Neolítico Antiguo con dataciones absolutas ca. 5295-4690 cal BC. Desde el punto de vista tipológico y funcional se documentan silos y fosas revestidas, fosas/cubetas no revestidas, fosas funerarias, estructuras relacionadas con el aprovechamiento del agua y una estructura de combustión. También hay una fosa ritual de tipo votivo del Neolítico Final (4045-3299 BC). Se presenta un estudio multidisciplinar del único asentamiento al aire libre del Neolítico Antiguo que ha sido excavado íntegramente en el interior peninsular. Es un trabajo inédito que contribuye a explicar los primeros asentamientos neolíticos del oeste de Europa y las sociedades segmentarias a partir del uso del espacio, la cerámica, la industria lítica, el ritual funerario, la bioarqueología, el paleoambiente y la fauna.

El Prado is one of the few open-air Early Neolithic sites in the northern half of Spain. In the archaeological excavation of the site, fifty negative structures associated with an Early Neolithic settlement were documented, with absolute datings ca. 5295-4690 cal BC. From the typological and functional points of view, there are storage pits, coated pits, uncoated pits, burial pits, water storage structures and a Polynesian oven. There is also a votive-type ritual pit of the Late Neolithic (4045-3299 cal BC). The authors here present a multidisciplinary study of the only Early Neolithic open-air settlement that has been entirely excavated in the interior of Iberia. 'Life and Death in the Early Neolithic Settlement of El Prado (Pancorbo, Burgos): Constructing the Neolithic in Iberia' is a previously unpublished study that helps to explain the first Neolithic settlements of Western Europe and segmental societies, through analyses of the use of space, ceramics, lithic tools, funerary ritual, bioarchaeology, the paleoenvironment and faunal remains.

AUTHOR
Carmen Alonso-Fernández es Licenciada en Filosofía y Letras (Sección Historia, Especialidad Arqueología) por la Universidad de Valladolid, y Doctora en Arqueología y Prehistoria por la UNED. Autora de numerosos libros, artículos y colaboraciones en obras colectivas de carácter científico, desde 2001 es Directora Técnica y Científica de Cronos SC Arqueología y Patrimonio.

Carmen Alonso-Fernández graduated in Philosophy and Letters (History Section, Archaeology Specialty) from the Universidad de Valladolid, and holds a PhD in Archaeology and Prehistory from UNED. She is the author of numerous books, articles and collaborations in collaborative scientific works. Since 2001 she has been the Technical and Scientific Director of Cronos SC Archeology and Heritage.

Contributors: Carmen Alonso-Fernández, Ainhoa Alonso Olazabal, Teresa Fernández-Crespo, Jesús González-Urquijo, Iranzu Guede, Javier Jiménez-Echevarría, Carles Lalueza-Fox, Talía Lazúen, José Antonio López Sáez, Iñigo Olalde, Luis Ángel Ortega, Sebastián Pérez Díaz, David Reich, Rick J. Schulting, Maria Cruz Zuluaga

REVIEW
‘This volume is an original and comprehensive contribution to our understanding of the Neolithic of the Iberian Peninsula, particularly the Early Neolithic. It is one of the few comprehensive publications for Neolithic open-air settlements in Iberia.’ Prof. Katina Lillios, University of Iowa

‘The depth of the fieldwork assessment and the broad array of analytical techniques deployed to study the material have produced high-quality, very detailed knowledge about the lifestyle and burial practices documented at the site.’ Dr Marta Díaz-Guardamino, Cardiff University